Fire-proof shutter



- (No Model.)

J. T. GOWLES.

. FIRE PROOF SHUTTER. No. 288,212. Patented Nov. 13, 1883.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY u PETERS. Pmwun m. mm a. c

* UNITED STATES.

PATENT @Frrcn.

JOHN r. cowLns, or CHICAGO, ILLInoIs.

FIRE-PROOF SH UTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,212, dated November 13, 188E.

' Applicatiomfiled July 23, 1883. (No model.)

nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Proof Shutters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

7 clear, and exact description of the invention,

which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theacco mpanyin g draw ings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification.

The object of my invention is to furnish a new and improved fireproof. shutter, which will effectually prevent the ingress or egress of the products of combustion or heat generated thereby, and at the same time permit of a perfect ventilation through the same both laterally and vertically.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the application of my shutters to a window. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

A A represent the side, and B B the top and bottom pieces, of angle-iron, composing the rectangular frame of my shutter. The rear inner edges of this angleiron frame are connected, and the area described by them is wholly covered by a wire screen, D, and the front edges of the same are connected to within a short distance of the top and bottom pieces, B, by a screen, 0. The upper and lower edges' of the screen 0 are riveted or otherwise secured to the upper and lower cross-pieces, .G and E. The cross-piece G is placed parallel to and preferably within an inch of the top frame, B, of my shutter, and its edges contiguous thereto are flanged obliquely outward,

as shown, to just within the vertical plane of the outer edges of the angle-iron shutterframe, leaving an opening, 9, between the cross-piece and said frame 13. The lower cross piece, E, is separated from the lower frame, B, about two inches, and runs parallel therewith, thus leaving an opening, 5, greater than the opening 9. The lower edges of this cross-piece E are flanged obliquely downward and outward a greater distance from the vertical plane of the outer edges of the angle-iron frame than similar flange of the upper crosspiece, G.

The means adopted for securing the wire screens in position are immaterial, and the cross-pieces E and G may be made to suit the fancy, or dispensed with altogether; but while I do not deem it absolutely necessary, I prefer that the outer screen, 0, be of finer mesh than the inner screen, D--say one-eighth of an inch for one to one-fourth inch to the otherfor reasons which will be made apparent hereinafter; The coarser mesh of the inner screen allows of a natural, not aforced, circulation of air through it. Thus when it is de slred "to ventilate a room no obstacle is presented by my shutter. lVhen the temperature of the outer atmosphere is warmer than that in the building to which my shutter is applied, the shaded and protected air within the shutter, being cooler, falls, thus creating a draft vertically through the shutter from top to hottom. hen the atmosphere isthe reverse of 0 that above set forth, the draft is from bottom to top of the shutter.

One of the most important features of my shutter is that it is perfectly fire-proof, not only by being constructed of fireproof material, but by being able to prevent great heat When a or flames from passing through it. flame from the inside or outside of the building strikes against the screens of the shutter it is deflected, and its presence is hardly perceptible on the opposite side, except in so far as it may heat thewires.

Another advantage possessed by my shutter is that a fireman can with a couple of good blows with a hatchet or thrusts of a hose-nozzle make a hole in the same large enough to insort the nozzle to play upon a fire raging within ahuilding, and himself suffer no inconvenience from the heat. Besides this advantage, it is light, economical, and durable, and well adapted in everyrespect for the purpose designed.

I do'not wish to be confined to an angle-iron frame, as it is obvious other constructions could be adopted; nor do Iwish to be considered as limiting myself to two screens, an inner and outer one, when in conjunction with a fireproof frame, as it is obvious more could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new is.

1. 'Afire-proof shutter having an angle-iron frame, and having preferably two screens, arranged in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

2. In .a fire-proof shutter having an iron frame, the combination, with an inner screen top and bottom, and provided with oblique covering the entire area of the contiguous inoutwardly-turned edges, and the openings 9 I ner side of the shutter, of an outer screen conand e, the Whole so constructed and arranged neoted to the side frames, but having an upas to make a fire-proof shutter. 15

5 per and lower opening between the top and In testimony that I claim the foregoing as bottom frames and the parallel and contigumy own I hereunto affix my signature in presous edges thereof. ence of two Witnesses.

3. The combination of the angle-iron shut- JOHN T. OOWLES. ter-frame A A and B B, an inner screen, D, WVitnesses: 10 an outer screen, 0, the cross-pieces G and E, J AMES H. CoYNE,

to which said outer screen is connected at the FRANK D. THOMASON. 

